Nine Killed In Biker Gang Fight In Texas

As many as five rivals gangs were involved in the fight in Texas that killed nine.

WACO, Texas — Authorities say the nine people killed in a shootout at a Central Texas restaurant were all members of rival biker gangs that had gathered for a meeting.

Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said that 18 other gang members were taken to hospitals Sunday for injuries sustained in the violence at a Twin Peaks restaurant shortly after noon.

Swanton said the gangs had arranged to meet to discuss differences when a fistfight began and quickly escalated to include knives and firearms. He said there were "hundreds" of gang members and a small number of other patrons in the restaurant.

Swanton said that as many as five rival gangs attended the gathering. He said that past tensions among the groups had focused on turf and recruitment efforts.

Authorities were investigating the scene and questioning witnesses Sunday evening.

The violence erupted shortly after noon at a busy Waco marketplace along I-35 that draws a large lunchtime crowd.

"There are still bodies on the scene of the parking lot at Twin Peaks," Swanton said. "There are bodies that are scattered throughout the parking lot of the next adjoining business."

A photo from the scene showed dozens of motorcycles parked in a lot. Among the bikes, at least three people wearing what appeared to be biker jackets were on the ground, two on their backs and one face down. Police were standing a few feet away in a group. Several other people also wearing biker jackets were standing or sitting nearby.

Swanton said police were aware in advance that at least three rival gangs would be gathering at the restaurant and at least 12 Waco officers in addition to state troopers were at the restaurant when the fight began.

When the shooting began in the restaurant and then continued outside, armed bikers were shot by officers, Swanton said, adding that the actions of law enforcement prevented further deaths. It was not known if any of the nine dead were killed by police officers.

It's not known what triggered the violence but Swanton and McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna said tensions had simmered among rival gangs for months.

"Apparently the management [of Twin Peaks] wanted them here and so we didn't have any say-so on whether they could be here or not," Swanton said.

Attempts to contact Twin Peaks for comment were not immediately successful.

The fight inside the restaurant began when punches were thrown and it quickly escalated to include chains and knives before firearms were drawn, Swanton said.

Three armed gang members were arrested when they attempted to enter the shooting scene to retaliate against rival members, he said. Authorities are increasing security in the area to prevent further violence among the gangs.

In addition to local and state police, the federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was also on the scene, according to its official Twitter account.